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Shiraishi An, part of the student committee, was at school at around 6 pm. The reason? She had a meeting there, and attended, of course. When said reunion ended, the girl with fading hair walked out, bidding her farewells to the people she knew.
For a moment then, as she got her bag, An thought, "Ena... She should be out her classes now. Maybe i can go visit?"
Both girls had formed a close relationship, thanks to An having to go with the rest of VBS to Akito's house. They instantly clicked, and, if An coukd believe, she felt a spark of something else. But that's for later. Ever since, they became close friends.
She walked to the artist's class, on her way being greeted by other students passing by, on their way home. Once infront of the room, she peeked inside...
That was weird... Where's Ena? Her things were still there. The bag, jacket, etceteras...
An, with worried-ridden thoughts, rushed to some classmate's of Ena's. "Hey," She started, the duo looked at her and gave a greet of each. "Do any of you perchance know where's Ena? Shinonome Ena?"
"Her? She left," They looked at their phone's screen, the time. "Around 3 minutes before the bell rang, why?"
"Ah, thank you, nothing."
An, her bag bouncing as she ran, rushed to various places; women's restrooms, janitor's room, other classrooms, even the gym. She found nothing. But, there's still a place she hasn't searched in.
The rooftop.
A whirly, disgusting feeling pooled on An's chest.
With heavy, resounding steps, An escalated up the stairs, to the roof. She found herself hesitant to open the door, but, pushing past her doubts, An opened it.
—— ☆ ——
"Miss, I need to go to the infirmary." Ena requested, standing next to the teacher's desk, said teacher being sat. With a snarl, that old woman agreed, "Okay, go."
Ena nodded, her mind rushing. She was doing it, but, did she want to? Yes, she's been wishing for this ever since middle school...
Without skills, someone can't go far. Without practice, you can see when someone doesn't care. Ena wasn't dumb, her dream was impossible. An artist? Pft, hilarious!
"You should give up on art."
"You don't have the ability to be an artist."
"Art is dead anyway, it gets you nowhere!"
"Artists are always weird, it's almost laughable!"
No, she wouldn't hear those words anymore. Her, living without her only ambition? Ena couldn't fathom a world without art, without creativity plastered on pictures and images.
So she found herself standing on the rooftop.
—— ★ ——
"Ena!!"
Ena looks back, her eyes widening slightly as the wind breezes with carefulness. "An?" She mutters, but somehow, the other girl hears. An's heart is thumping on her chest, fear and aadrenaline rushing through all her being. How could she be not scared? Her f(crush)riend is standing on the edge of a tall building, without shoes, and clearly thinking of doing it.
"Don't move, please!" An shouts as she walks to the brown-haired girl, her steps careful, planned to not scare off Ena. An clutches the rooftop's fence, gazing at the door separating the safe floor from the falling blade. She speaks softly, "Ena, walk with me, please," She takes a deep breath, "Please, stay with me."
Ena, taking the message, clings to the fence. Her heart clenches, An looks so utterly scared, as if she saw a ghost. An takes a step in direction to the open fence's door, Ena follows through, her own heart thumping at a quick pace. One step, two steps, three steps. They're closer every moment, and An prays to whatever God is out there, "Let her stay with me."
They reach the door, it's open, so Ena just bounces down. Instantly, An wraps her arms around her. She's trembling from pure shock. "Ena," She mutters, "Don't ever try to do that. Please, i know you can." Those words seem to take an effect on her that she didn't even expect. Ena sniffles, an angry sob.
"It's okay," An rubs her back, she lowers the two to the floor so Ena doesn't collapse on her, "Let it out, i'm here." Ena wails, she wails at the comforting actions. She clings on An like if as she feared to let go.
"Do you want to talk it out...?"
"..No..."
An nods slowly, simply sitting there, infront of the open fence with the crying girl on her arms. She doesn't care if her uniform stains with tears and makeup, of if it breaks under the fierce grip of the artist. All she cares about is the gratitude to have been early.
Maybe Ena does not want to talk, it's okay.
Maybe she's too scared, and that's okay too.
She's just happy she's still here.